Hirsch “The Departure” is a bold step away from this brand’s bourbon tradition, showcasing the prowess in crafting exceptional American Single Malt by one of America's original craft distillers. Distilled at San Francisco’s Hotaling & Co. and aged for 6 years and 9 months in both new char #3 and toasted American oak, this limited release (only 112 cases made) is double-distilled in small copper pot stills from 100% Maris Otter barley. A huge departure from the typical single malted rye that is used at the famous distillery and some of the last spirit to come out of the old facility before moving north. The result is a richly layered whiskey with a nose of caramel, grassy grain, and sweet cereal that unfolds into notes of green tea, baking spice, and fruit on the palate. The finish lingers with cocoa nibs, crisp minerality, and soft stone fruit. Aged in 24-month air-dried, extra fine grain barrels, this 49% ABV malt balances freshness and structure with finesse and complexity. As one of the final spirits crafted at Hotaling’s original Potrero Hill location, The Departure is both a tribute to tradition and a signal of what’s to come. It’s an elegant, small-batch whiskey built for collectors and malt fans looking for something outside the expected American profile.